Anand v Carlsen Match Set For India?

A report today in the Indian newspaper The Hindu claims that Chennai will be the venue for world chess champion Vishy Anand's next title defence against Magnus Carlsen.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa of the Tamil Nadu government claimed the match will be held in Chennai between 6 -26 November and the state government will allot Rs 29 crore (approx US$5.3 million) to fund the event.

From The Hindu:

Ms. Jayalalithaa said when the World Chess Federation president Kirsan Illyumzhinov met her in 2011, he had requested her to hold the World Chess Championship in Chennai. She also had agreed to organise the event at a cost of Rs. 20 crore.“However, it failed to materialise as Russia made the highest bidding for the championship. Since Tamil Nadu came forward to organise the event in 2012, The World Chess Federation agreed to hold it in Chennai without bidding,” she said.

Chennai missed out to Moscow on hosting the last world championship match between Anand and Gelfand, despite initially having the higher bid. FIDE's announcement then said that "the AICF (All India Chess Federation) would be given a first option of three months following the match in Moscow, to make a proposal for the organization of the World Chess Championship Match 2013".

The 3 months have passed, so it's not clear how much weight should be given to this promise.

The reaction from Carlsen's friends and supporters quoted in the Norwegian press has been understandably guarded and bemused, preferring that the match be held in a neutral venue - preferably with a cooler climate.

Tromsø in Norway is already set to hold the 2013 World Cup and the 2014 Olympiad, so it might also make a bid for the world championship match, if it can raise the necessary funds.

The company with the rights to the world championship, AGON, is rumoured to want to hold the match in New York. Until FIDE actually make an official announcement, we are probably no nearer to knowing the venue of the match just yet!

They'rent going to travel by ship or train. I don't think it will take more than 20 hours to travel from Norway to Chennai, and that's nothing. For all sports, the participants need to travel. Be it Olympics, or the football World Cup. Last time, it was held in Africa, so the home teams didn't have to travel. So did that give them any advantage?

And Carlsen would arrive at the venue at least 4 - 5 days before the event I presume. That should give him enough rest.

so you think that one player should have to travel half way around the globe, while the other can take a short ride ? excess travel would be my biggest concern, a very biased crowd also can perhaps break ones focus too...it wouldnt matter to me if they played it in petragrad or riyadh, as long as the travel distance is comparable....

people have complained about fide catering to the russians for many years....carlsen certainly shouldnt be punished for that...also, if gelfand felt enclined to go home, in that case, russia never really was his home...he was merely visiting for a while....

Anand played against Topalov in 2010 at Topalov's country Bulgaria. And against Gelfand's in his original country Russia in 2012. I wonder where did this neutrality thing go when he Carlsen wasn't in the picture.

Anand has travelled and played in all the colder countries of Europe, and Russia. You may not know, but it is very terrible for us, being born in equitorial / hot countries, to go to adjust in colder places. When he doesn't have anything to complain, then why should Carlsen have any problems if he too has to face the same thing?

In any sport, both the teams have to learn to play under home and away conditions. When Australian or English Cricket team comes to India, they need to adapt to the hot climate, and the pitch conditions. Not to mention, cricketers play one test match for around 8 hours a day for 5 days continuously. And it's the same scenario for the Indian team when they go to England and have to adjust to the freezing cold.

The situation is far better for Carlsen. He doesn't have to spend 8 hours a day under the sun in the playground everyday. He will be given one of the best hotels, and the playing venue would be air conditioned as well. He won't feel a thing.

The only factor is the home support for Anand, which is expected and natural.

Anand was forced to play the WC in Sofia, Bulgaria. Due to Volcanic ash, all the flights were cancelled. He travelled by train for 1 - 2 days, and didn't get any rest as the organisers refused to postpone the event by 3 - 4 days as requested by him. He played under such circumstances, and as expected, lost the first round against Topalov. Yet he bounced back to win the Championship.

To all of the people rooting for Anand, that expect Magnus to have to endure some adverse circumstance, that Vishy doesn't, only are showing your lack of faith in your champion...

To all of you who aren't for as fair of a venue as possible, do you want any excuses for Magnus, should Anand win ?

I want and expect Magnus to win. I don't want unfair circumstances favoring Magnus. I don't want to hear from disgruntled Anand fans about why he lost.

How would any of you like it if before your next tournament, the fans of your next opponent, desired that you perhaps get less sleep, and have less comfort than he/she , before you play your match, for several days ? Put the shoe on the other foot and see if it fits...

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